Braider Blog

I am no stranger to sleepless nights. Even when I was a baby I had trouble sleeping deeply. A couple of decades, many doctor consultations, and Google searches later, I've consolidated a list of sleep hygiene practices that have been helpful for me and may also be helpful for you.

Pick a bedtime and stick to it. A consistent consecutive sleep schedule will help your body get into the rhythm of falling asleep.

Before bed, empty your head. Sometimes my mind fills to the brim and overflowing with ideas, problems, and solutions. I like to keep a small notebook by my bed because transferring my thoughts from inside my head onto paper can really help lighten my mental load.

One track mind. Keeping your bed a strictly sleep only zone(which means no reading, using your computer, working, eating, etc.) can be helpful because it trains your body to expect to sleep when it hits the mattress.

Relax. As a byproduct of my busy schedule, I’ve noticed that my baseline body state is tense. This means that I have to make a conscious effort in order to feel relaxed. Am exercise I like to do is imagining that I am a closed fist slowly releasing tension into an open palmed hand. If this sounds like something you’d like to try, search for autogenic meditation on YouTube.

Extras. Outside of bedtime rituals, regular exercise and healthy eating throughout the day can contribute to a good night’s sleep.